Intel forms Intel Labs Europe with hubs in Dublin, Munich

LONDON  The world's largest chip company, Intel Corp. (Santa Clara, Calif.), has announced the formation of Intel Labs Europe with "open labs" being formed in Leixlip, Ireland and Munich, Germany.

Coinciding with the launch of the ILE Intel chairman Craig Barrett, and chief technology officer Justin Rattner attended a seminar in the European Parliament in Brussels regarding European research, innovation and competitiveness. The dialog focused on how research and innovation can aid Europe’s economic recovery and long-term competitiveness.

Intel already has about 800 engineers engaged in research across Europe so the formation of ILE is partly to do with reorganizing Intel's European research under a single management structure. Intel does plan to establish so-called open labs in Munich, Germany and Leixlip, Ireland to enable and host participation in EU Framework 7 (FP7) projects and other collaborative research with European companies, startups and universities.

Professor Martin Curley, professor of technology and business Innovation at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and global director of IT innovation at Intel, has been appointed Director of Intel Labs Europe, the company said.

The mission of ILE is to advance Intel Architecture research and innovation and to partner with European stakeholders to improve European competitiveness. The likely areas of research include: visual computing, software development, enterprise solutions, green computing, advanced microprocessor research and high performance computing.

"With the foundation of ILE, Intel is establishing a strong network of its existing labs in Europe and preparing a platform for further potential investment and advanced innovation activity," the company said in a statement. Intel is also working to align itself with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as it develops. The EIT started operation from a base in Budapest, Hungary in 2008.